Cabbage harvester



July 13, 1965 E. F. BOYER CABBAGE HARVESTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 INVENTOR.

EMANUEL F BOYER July 13, 1965 E. F. BOYER CABBAGE HARVESTER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 m OE INVENTOR.

EMANUEL F. BOYER July 13, 1965 E. F. BOYER CABBAGE HARVES'I'ER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 50, 1963 R Y mm NF. mm B N Wm g N mm m E 9 K i. S. Y .E w mm Qw mm B 5 s 5 5 6 E 4 B m m 8. Q Q R mm B mm 2., mm mm m mm .w a a m am 5 8 July 13, 1965 E. F. BOYER CABBAGE HARYES'IER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 INVENTOR.

EMANUEL F. BOYER United States Patent 3,194,318 CABBAGE VESTER Emanuel F. Boyer, RD. 2, Barre Center, Albion, NY. Filed Aug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,660 9 Claims. (Cl. 171Il8) This invention relates to a produce harvester, and more particularly to a machine for use in the fields for harvesting cabbage heads.

Heretofore it has been customary to harvest cabbage headsby hand, cutting each cabbage head from its stalk. Moreover, storage cabbage (normal table cabbage), after being cut from its stem, must be placed in bushel baskets disposed at convenient points along the cabbage rows in the field; and the baskets must thereafter be picked up and transported away, while kraut cabbage (large cabbage heads which are used to make sauerkraut) after being cut from their stems has to be thrown by pitchfork into the transport wagon. A good worker has been able to harvest at most about five tons of cabbage a day. This manual harvesting of cabbage is laborious, time-consuming and expensive.

One object of this invention is to provide a machine which will eliminate the harvesting of cabbage by hand, and substantially reduce the number of hours it takes to harvest a field of cabbage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cabbage harvesting machine which cuts the stems and leaves from uprooted cabbage heads, and thereafter separates the cabbage heads from the severed stems and leaves.

Another object of this invention is to provide a machine for automatically uprooting, trimming and conveying cabbage heads directly into a transport wagon.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cabbage harvesting machine having an adjustable mechanism for trimming and conveying cabbage heads of different sizes, after they are uprooted.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent hereinafter from the specification, and from the recital of the appended claims, particularly when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cabbage harvesting machine made in accordance with one embodiment of this invention, certain elements in the machine being shown fragmentarily;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of this machine, parts being broken away;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary end view of the machine looking in the direction of the arrows 33 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 44 in FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The harvesting machine illustrated comprises a frame carrying a pair of spaced, parallel conveyors, which are supported adjacent one end thereof upon the axle of a two-wheeled, tractor-drawn trailer, and which at their opposite ends project downwardly and forwardly of the trailer toward ground level. Adjacent the lower, forward ends of the conveyors the frame defines a bifurcated fork or scoop which is adapted to pass beneath and uproot cabbages as the trailer is drawn over a row of cabbage plants. The forward motion of the trailer urges the uprooted cabbages rearwardly of the scoop, and onto the conveyors. The conveyors then transport the plants .in FIG. 1 and designated generally at 35.

"ice

upwardly and rearwardly on the frame, with the cabbage stems projecting downwardly between the conveyors and into the path of a rotating blade which severs the stems from the cabbages. The trimmed cabbage heads, together with the leaves, which become loose upon the removal of the stems, are fed onto a third conveyor supported on the frame at the upper, rear ends of the first-named conveyors. This third conveyor transports the cabbage heads and the severed leaves toward the rear of the trailer, but is inclined downwardly relative to opposite sides of the trailer so that the cabbage heads roll downwardly and sideways off of the third conveyor onto a fourth conveyor, while the severed leaves remain on the third conveyor until they are dumped thereby back onto the ground at the rear of the trailer. The fourth conveyor carries the trimmed cabbage heads upwardly and into a transport wagon that is drawn alongside the harvesting machine.

Referring now to the. drawings by numerals of reference, the harvesting machine 11 comprises a tubular axle 12 which is rectangular in cross section and which has transverse, rectangular bearing plates 13 secured to opposite ends thereof, respectively. Removably secured to the outer face of each bearing plate 13 by a plurality of bolts 14 is a further rectangular plate 15. Each plate 13 has in its outer face a plurality of vertically spaced, threaded recesses 16 (FIG. 3) for bolts'l i, so that each plate 15 may be secured in one of at least two different vertical positions (see broken and solid line positions in FIG. 4) relative to the axle l2. Secured at one end to the outer face of each plate 15 is a stub shaft 17. Rotatably mounted in a conventional manner on each shaft 17 are a conventional wheel and its tire 18.

'Pivoted at one end on a pair of brackets 19 carried by the axle 12 adjacent one end thereof is a hitch 21 (only part of which is shown in FIG. 1) by means of which the harvesting machine 11 is adapted to be connected to a tractor or the like to be drawn along a row of cabbage plants.

Secured by screws 22 to the upper face of axle 12 for axial adjustment therealong is a rectangular adjusting plate 23. Welded to plate 23 are blocks 24 and 25 (FIGS. 3 and 4) on which are welded two laterally spaced, parallel channel irons 26 and 27, which are inclined to the horizontal. At their forward ends (to the left of the axle 12 in FIGS. 1 and 2) the channel irons 26 and 27 extend downwardly toward ground level, and at their rear ends they project upwardly beyond the rear of the axle 12.

Rotatably mounted in two sets of bearing blocks 28 (FIG. 1) disposed at opposite ends, respectively, of the channel iron 26, are two shafts Z9 and 31, respectively. Secured to shaft 29 to rotate therewith in axially spaced relation to one another in the space between the forward ends of the channels 26 and 27 are a pair of sprockets 32. A further pair of axially spaced sprockets 33 is secured to shaft 31 to rotate therewith in the space between the rear ends of the channels 26 and 27. Shaft 31 extends outwardly through the web of channel 26 and has secured on its free end a sprocket 34 which is motor-driven as will be described in more detail below.

The sprockets 33 drive a conveyor belt shown in part Belt 35 comprises a pair of endless chains 36, which travel over the pairs of sprockets 32 and 33, and a plurality of laterally spaced 513.1337 which extend transversely between and are secured to the chains 36. The channelirons 26 and 27 confront one another, and at opposite ends their legs are notched out as at 38 to provide clearance for. travel. of the slats 37 around the sprocketsv 32 and,331

As. shown more clearly in FIG. '4, the. channels 26 and 27 are supported on the adjusting plate 23 in such mannen' that the axes of the shafts 29 and 31 are inclined to axis of the axle 12. a

Secured along one edge thereof to. the lower, forward ends of the channel irons 26 and 27 is the base of a right" triangular plate -39, the pointed end of which extends outwardly beyond the channel irons 26 .and 27. to form. part of a bifurcated scoop at the forward end of the machine 11.

is a plate 41 (FIG. 3).

41 ,,are a pair 'ofspaced, parallel channel irons44 and 45 (FIG.' 4).- The channel irons 44 and 45 are inclined, like channel irons 26 and 27, to'axle 12,.and extend.

the

at one end downwardly and forwardly of axle 12, and at.

their opposite ends above and t0 the rear of the axle. Channel, iron 45 is substantially coextensivejwith the:

channel iron 27; while thechannel iron '44, extends (FIGS; 1 and 2) rearwardly beyond the upper end or.

channel iron 45;

Rotatably journaled in "bearing blocks 46*(FIGS. 1

and 4) at the forwardend of channel iron 44, and'in bearing blocks 47 adjacent the rear end of this channeliron opposite the rear end of channel iron 45, are two shafts 48 and 49, respectively, which extend through the.

web of channel iron 44 and into thev space between the channel iron 44 and 45. Securedto shafts 48 and- 49,.

respectively, torotate in the space between the channel .irons 44 and. .45 are two axially spaced sprockets 51 and 52, over which travel a conveyor belt shown in part travels over aligned sprockets 51 and 52, .and a plurality of spaced slats 55 which extend transversely of the chains 54.; The legs of the channels .44 and "confront;one i a another, and are notched out or recessed as at 56 (FIG.

1) to allow opposite ends of the slats to travel around the sprockets 51' and 52. The channel irons:441 and 45;

are supported on the, plate 41in such manner that the FIG. 4.

' Asia the case of the channel irons 26 and. 27, the; channel. irons 44 and 45 have secured to their forward ends a rigid, right-triangular plate 57-.which projects Toe-1 yondthe forward ends of the channel irons toprovide. a

pointed furcation which is adapted to cooperate with the pointed plate 39in uprooting cabba'ges; during the opera I tion of the machine.

Welded to the rear face of Secured to the rear face, of axle 12 adjacent opposite 156 to rotate .;in...;the space between the channel mernberf. a 64 and the channel member .44 is a-pair ofaxially-space'd; sprockets'l71. [I l Journaled adjacent opposite axially spaced sprockets 74 that cooperatewithIspnockets 71 to carry 'a' conveyor beltf75i (part of which is shown inFIG. 1).

Belt 75 comprises a' pair ofchains 76which't1r'aveloverj V the; sprockets 71 and 74 and a {plurality of: spaced slats V 7Twhich are .securedtoand extend tra nsve'rsely of. the"; i i

chains 76.; a

Shaft 73 at one end.thereof'extendsbeyond the outer:

face of the channel, iron144 andhas' securedthereon a sprocket iwheeljfispwhich is? connected by inieans of a a chain 79} to a :drive sprocket-81 [carried;by,the output shaft of a gearbox SZ'Which isoperated by a motojr:83ii mounted on the channel iron 44 'abov'e" the ,beltl75l 1he motori83 thus driyes thegconveyorsbelt 75', and through;

the a'gen'cy'of the sprocket 67 on the shaft 166, the chain 68, and the sprocket 69=onshaft drive the; conveyor belt- 535.

87 are mounted at one end onishaft 86 againstfthefinonally upwardlyv ('FIG. 13); T

Secured toshaft s inside of thesi de' members 87 4s a v f pair of axially spaced sprockets SS Which; support one 'end of a conveyor belt shownin part in FIGS '1"an'd,3, V and designatedgenerally at 89. The 'belt 89;cornpr-ises a: I

pair of chains'91 which connects-the pair ;of.;isp'rockets "855 to a further pair of sprockets .(rji-otilhis'trated) carried 7 between theupperendSE oftheside plate 1.37=,'and' a plnralityjof spaced conveyor slatsf92 l which extend trans: .versely 'of' the; chains. Secured;to. and extending transvers-elyf between. the "side"'frarne rnentbers 3 7" betwee n: and parallelto the upper and 'lower runs-of thebelt 8935f a rigid plate: 93. The purpose," and operation of; conveyor 89wil11be describedin moredetailtbelow; 1

V the axle 12 medially}ofthe; axle; and projecting rearwardly therefrom, is; a block 61.;v

6O 7 endsthereof, and extendingdiagonally inwardly and Trear-.

wardlyto juncture with block 61 are two bars or straps 62'and 63. These bars or straps are welded to block- 61.1.

Welded tothe rear end :of'block 61,;and extending rear blocks carried by the channel irons 64 and 44 (FIGLL 1) to rotate about an'axis parallel to and spaced rear wardlyfrom the shaft 49; is .a shaft 66., Shaft .66 at;

one, end projectsbeyond :the web of; channel: iron -44 and has secured thereon a sprocket 67 which is con-f nected by a chain 68 to a sprocket 69 carried by shaft49 at the exterio'r'of the channel iron 44; Secured on shaft:

Mqunted on a bracket .94 (FIGSQ I to 3), which'isfsen sured to thechannelironZdadjacient the rear endflthereof,

is a motor 55 and a gear box 96 "driyeri thereby. {The 7 output shaft of the gear box 96 has {mounted thereon a pulley 97, and axially spacedtlicrefron .ags proclet V Q81 Sprocket98 is connectedby' a chain' fito the. drives sprocket 34izifor the pu'rposeof driving the conveyor] belt 35'.

Pulley 97 isconnectedby abelt 101 to a fnr'therpulleyf' M2 secured on .a shaft .103pwhich. is mounted. for meg tion about an axis which extendsiparallelto axlei-12 above 5 and forwardly thereof. Adjacent oppositei ends; 'therepf.

the shaft ;.1 l3 i s rotatably' journaled:inbearing bloeks 1%4 carried by a 'pair of channelirons105j (121G311 and 12) which at one end thereofare securedtothe iupper surface-, of the channel irons 26. and 44,- respectively, intermediate T the ends thereof; Thegchannel. ironsgltlS: p'r ojectfup- Wardly frOmth'eJchanneL irron'sf26 ;and 44 in spaced; confronting relation; and.are'supported'iinltheir vertical positions my means-ofa pairgofrigidbracles 1%, feach. of which extendsidiagonally betweenthe upperiend of a respective channel iron and-:the associatedchannel 'ironj26or 44. i W

A pair of spaced',,pa'ralle1 bars 1 (B' 7"'(FIGS. land 2) are;

' pivotally rnounted at one end thereofion theishaft 1.03. They carry between themfat; their :free; ends a rotatable shaft 1% which extends parallel to shaft 163. Secured.to

- the shaft 108 to rotate therewith between therforward'endsl 1 ends thereof in-bearing blocks'f72 carried at the rear ends of the channelniernbers 64 and 44, and. extending therebetwe'en lparallel. tofthe shaft eats-a shaft 73. Secured to; shaftf73 is iajpair of' j49,i-is operative also to Secured to the: outsidefof, iand projecting doy'vnwardlyf frorn, -the channekmemb'er-Mis' apair 'of'spacedplates' '84 (FIGS-1 to,3).- Journale'd at 'opposite-,.ends thereof; in,bearingsS5 secured-tothe plates 84 adja'cent'the lower ends thereof torotate: about .an axis' whi'ch'is positioned belowand 'extendsitransverse te the axes ofth'e shafts} 66 and 73, isa shaft 86;;wospaced", parallel side plates of the members 167 is a large rubber tired wheel 109 around the outer peripheral surface of which is secured a strap 111 (FIG. 4). This strap operates to draw the center of the tire radially inwardly so that its outer pe- 4 ripheral surface is substantially concave in cross section as shown at 112 in FIGS. 1 and 4. At one end thereof shaft 108 extends outwardly beyond one of the bars 1417 and has secured thereon a pulley 113 which is connected by a belt 114 to a further pulley 115 secured on shaft 103. The arms 107 are resiliently urged upwardly by a coiled tension spring 116 that is secured at one end to a transverse brace 117, which extends between the arms 107, and at its opposite end to a rod 118 that extends between the upper ends of the channel irons 105.

Welded at one end to the forward face of the axle 12 adjacent the hitch 21, and extending forwardly of the axle parallel to the outer face of the channel iron 26 is a bar 121 (FIGS. 1, 2 and 4), which is generally rectangular in cross section. Secured to the upper surface of bar 21 adjacent its outer end, and extending at right angles there from transversely beneath the channel irons 26, 27, 45 and 44, and substantially midway between the ends of the last-mentioned channel irons, is a rigid, rectangular sup port plate 122. Rotatably mounted at one end thereof in bearings 123 carried on opposite sides of the support plate 122 is a shaft 124. Secured on shaft 124 intermediate the ends thereof is a large, disc-shaped cutter blade 125 which projects through aligned slots 126 (FIGS. 2 and'4) in the channel irons 26, 27 and 45, and extends transversely across the space between the channel members 27 and 45. Shaft 124 projects upwardly beyond the disc cutter 125 and has secured on its upper, free end a double sheave 127 (FIG. 1), which is connected by a pair of belts 128 to a double sheave 129 (FIG. 1) carried by the output shaft 131 of a gear box 132. Box 132 is connected to and actuated by a motor 133, which is supported beneath the motor 95 on a plate 134 that is welded to and projects rearwardly from the axle 12.

In operation, the hitch 21 of the machine 11 is connected to a tractor or the like, which draws the machine along a row of cabbage plants so that the forks 39 and 57 at the forward end of the machine project down into the ground along opposite sides of a row of plants. The forward motion of the machine 11 causes the cabbage plants to be uprooted and guided by the forks upwardly and rearwardly toward and onto the conveyor belts 35 and 53 with the heads resting on the belts and the stalks of the cabbages extending into the space between the channel irons 27 and 45. The motors 83 and 9Sat this time are operating and the cabbages are transported by the belts 35 and 53 upwardly toward the rear of the machine. The downwardly extend-ing cabbage stems will project into the path of the cutter blade 125, which at this time is being rotated by motor 133.

As the cabbages (one of which is shown at H in FIG. 4) approach the blade 125 they pass beneath and are engaged by the tire 109, which at the time is being rotated by motor 95. The rotating tire 109 presses the cabbage heads slightly downwardly to insure engagement of the cutting edge of the cutter 125 with the cabbage stems. The severed stems are free to drop downwardly between the channels 27 and 45 back onto the ground; and the trimmed cabbage heads, together with the leaves which normally are released or loosened upon the severing of the stem from the cabbage, continue to be transported upwardly by the conveyor belts 35 and 53 until they are dumped off these belts onto the conveyor belt 75 positioned beneath the rear ends of the channels 26, 27 and 45.

The motor 83 drives the belt 75 so that the upper run thereof travels from the left to the right in FIG. 1 However, as shown more clearly in FIG. 3, belt 75 is inclined between opposite sides thereof from the channel extension 44, downwardly toward the lower end of the conveyor belt 89. The cabbage heads falling onto the belt 75 are thus caused by gravity to roll downwardly off the side of the belt 75 onto belt 89, while the loose leaves remain upon the belt 75 and are discharged thereby, at the rear end of the machine, back onto the ground. The cabbage heads themselves are conveyed by belt 89 upwardly and to the side of the machine 11 to be dumped into a wagon or the like which is drawn alongside of the machine.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that applicant has provided an efficient and rugged harvesting machine, which will substantially eliminate the manual harvesting of cabbage heads; and which will reduce considerably the amount of time needed to harvest a field of cabbage. Also, applicants machine is capable of harvesting both the small (storage) and large (kraut) size cabbage heads merely by removing the screws 22 and adjusting plate 23, and hence the channel irons 26 and 27 axially on the axle 12, thereby to increase or decrease the space between the channel irons 26 and 45 depending upon the size of the cabbage heads which are being harvested. Moreover the angle at which the forks 37 and 59 enter the ground can be adjusted by removing the bolts 14 and adjusting the plates 15 vertically on the plates 13.

The rotating tire 109 holds the cabbage heads firmly in place on the conveyors as they pass into engagement with the rotating cutter blade 125, thereby to avoid accidental jarring or bouncing of the heads away from the cutter blades at the critical moment of cutting. The angular disposition of the conveyor 75 relative to the conveyor 89, and to ground level, produces a simple and automatic means for separating the trimmed heads from the unwanted leaves and stems.

With the machine of this invention, one hundred feet of cabbage row can be harvested and trimmed per minute. This is three hundred to seven hundred pounds of cabbage per minute, depending on the type of cabbage. One ton of kraut cabbage can be cut and loaded onto a wagon in about three minutes. One ton of storage cabbage can be cut and loaded in about seven minutes; this is because the storage cabbage heads are smaller and weigh less.

There are about one hundred heads of storage cabbage in one hundred feet of row, and about seventy-five feet of kraut cabbage in one hundred feet. The figures for cutting and loading by the machine of this invention are to be compared with the maximum of five tons of cabbage per day which a good man can cut by hand and basket.

In addition to the tremendous saving in time, applicants machine eliminates hand'labor and handling.

Whilethe invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptatrons of the invention following, in general, the principles of the invention and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features hereinbefore set forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention or the limits of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A cabbage harvesting machine comprising (a) a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along a row of cabbage plants, (b) means on said carriage for uprooting cabbage plants from a row during the advance of said carriage,

(c) cutting means on said carriage for trimming the stems from the heads of the uprooted cabbage plants, (d) conveyor means mounted on said carriage for transporting uprooted cabbage plants past said cutting means to be trimmed thereby, and for transporting the heads of the plants and leaves severed from the heads toward a discharge point at the rear end of said conveyor means,

(e) an endless conveyor belt having its upper run positioned beneath the rear end of said conveyor means to receive trimmed heads'and leaves dischargedoff g the rear end of said conveyor means, and (f) means supporting said conveyor belt on said carriage with one side thereof highenthan the other, whereby v 5, to the horizontal to cause the trimmed cabbage heads 'said upper run of said belt is inclinedat an angle delivered onto said conveyor belt from said conveyor means to roll by gravity toward and off said other sideof said belt, while the leaves are transported: V

' by said belt to a discharge point atone end thereof. 1 2. A cabbage harvesting machine comprising (a) 'a vcarriage adapted to;be advanced on the ground along a row of cabbage plants,"

(blrneans on said carriage for uprooting cabbage plants 7 from a row'during the advance of saidcarriage, 1 '(c) a first conveyor comprised ofa first pair of spaced endless belts on said carriage disposed 'rearwardly' of Lsaid'uprooting means for supporting and transporting uprooted'plants toward the rear of said carrige with the stem portions of the plants'depending downwardly between said belts,

' (d) ablade movable transversely across the; spacejbe.

i (c) said wheel has a resilient peripheral surface-which is concave ,in cross section-;andjbeneath' whieh the; tops of'said plants: must pass before) reaching said tween said belts to sever the stems and leaves from the;

heads of plants transported by said belts,

(e) a third conveyor belt ,mountedfbeneaththe: rear.

ends of said first pair of belts, and onto which the"- trimmed heads and leavesYare delivered by said,

first pair of belts, (f): means driving said third belt in, a direction to deliver the leaves thereonto the rear endof said carria'ge, said third belt being inclinedito the' horizontal with one side thereof higher than i-the other, thereby to cause the trimmed cabbage heads thereon to roll downwardly off said other side thereof,

' (g) a fourth conveyor-belt mounted on said carriage with other end thereof positioned beneath said, one side. of sa'id third'beltto catch the. heads which roll therefrom, and to convey them away, and

(h)l means for adjusting the belts of said first conveyor :4 7 toward and away. from one another. to change the.

, spacebetween them.

i V (f) a rotating; cutter blade 3.-A.' cabbage harvesting machine as defined in, claim 2,

including means mounted above said first conveyor and,

engageable with'the topsof the uprooted plants tozpress them resiliently downwardly between the beltsof said firstconveyor and into engagement with said blade. 1

4. A cabbage harvesting machineacomprising (a) a carriage adapted to be advanced on the ground along'a row of cabbage plants, V

(b) a pair of spawd, parallel conveyor beltS mOunted: on said carriageto extend upwardly from the ground, at the front ofsaid carriage, and operative to trans-,

port uprooted plants upwardly andv lrearwardly or" 7 said carriage,

'(c) a pair of spaced members projeetingbeyond the;

forward ends of said belts to uprootand guide plants onto said belts with the'stem passing between said'belts, V

(d) resilient means mounted onsaidcarriage to engage the topso f-plants and topress the plants: resiliently downwardly onto said belts, Q

portions of the plants 7 i ,(e) a blade movably mounted on ,said carriage and I extendingtransversely across the space between the belts to engage and sever the stem and leaf portions from the heads of said plants, V V a (f) meansv mounted on said carriage rearwardly of said conveyor belts for sorting the'trimmed cabbage heads from the leaf portionslsevered therefrom, and

(g) means for adjusting the space between saidbelts' to permit trimming of relatively large plants of the kra'ut type, and smaller plants of the storage variety, respectively.

1 5. A ,cabbage harvesting machine as defined claim; a 4 wherein said sorting means comprises (a) afurther conveyor,

toone sideof said{furtheri belt, and

(b) means-for driving said f urther beltit'otransport the leaves thereon to the other end of saidvfurther' 'belt51 v 6. Acabbage;harvestingmachine' asjdefined in claim,

4 wherein'saidiresilient meanscomprises v (a) a wheel;

space between said belts, and 1 blade- 7. A' cabbagef harvesting machine comprising ed to be advanced on'the ground V (a) a carriage. adapt along a row' of; cabbagefplants,

(b)-a pair of -spaced,generally parallel, rigid hious- V I ingsmountedon' said jca'rriageand extending-down-1 ground level;,iat the front; ofzsaid' ,7 wardly toward carriage,

(c) an endless belt mounted in eachof; said ,.housing s,

(d) ,said' housings being inclined to thejlhorizontal'fso "that the, uppenrunsfof said belts, extend from,ad- I jacentythe'forwardzends of. said housings upwardly and rearwardly of said 'icarriag'jefl if (e) means adjacentqthe lower,torwardiends ioi said housings'tor uprooting eabbagle plants fromda row; and guiding the plants onto the upper runs of said belts with thestems' oi said plants passing, between the two 'be lsa slots in said housingsbeneath, said upperrunaand transversely across thespace between said runs, 7 (g), means for driving said belts jirr'a direction 5 to ;ad-

vance the plants carried therebyitoward'said' blade; (h) means mounted on;s aid earriage" above v aid belts I i to engage andfurgethe plants 'dOWnwardlyonto said belts; wherebyv thestem'andleaf portions are'severed asthe plants are 1 c onfrom: the heads Dffgthe plants veyed past said:blade,-;,

(i) a endlessibelt I mounted atithe real; of the first-named belts to receive': the heads andc leaves V trimmed therefrom,a v

(1') said third beltgbeing inclined dc iw'nwardlyttrbm a one to the :othersidethereofgwhereby thewtrimmed,

heads roll ofibfsaid' others'ide' of said :third 'belt; v

(k) means for, drivingsaid; third; belt ina a direction togconvey the leaves. thereon "to 5 one} end jot-said 7 third beltIfor disqha fgfi therefromfand, p

1. a fourth endlessibeltfmountedi adjacent said other? Side of ,said third endless belt tocatchftheghejads which roll Qfiisaid third-belt anditolcarrythem'toa transportavehicle.

SHAcabbage harvesting,machineas deiiriedfin 7-wherein saidjcarriage comprises,

tively, at opposite ends?oithetairleaand (a),,an axle having a pair of wheels-mounted,resped.

(b),,rne'ans interposed between each wheel andthe co.r'-. 7 responding end. of said axle,forjadjusting zthe axis fof said-axle verticallyfrelative to, theaxis :of said wheel,v thereby to e'ifec tfan adjustment inIinclinationoffsaid uprooting meansfand of said housing'sg relativeto -groundleve1. v 9. A-cabbag'e harvesting 7 including i V belt mounted with one end, thereof disposedbeneathuthe rear ends of saidipair' of c onveyor beltsl'to receive the trimmed heads and,

leaves disehargedby' said pair IofLbelts, and inclined; to-the horizontal to 'cause thehtr'immed heads to'froll (b); meansmounting said wheel above said pairiof belts to rotate about. an axis extendingtransverse tovsaid, belts; and vin a vertical jplane, which bisects the V mounted-ion isaid' carriage; adjacenttone'bf said housings, and extendingthrough;-

machineas defined in elairn; V

9 10 (b) means for adjusting one of said housings on said 2,698,506 1/55 Rushfeldt 209114 X axle in a direction extending parallel to the axle, 2,855,058 10/58 Krier et a1. 17138 X h b 'd h t erebyyto ad ust the space etween sa1 ousings FOREIGN AT TS References Cited by the Examiner 5 146,109 4/62 U.S.S.R.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,889 7/53 Warner 171 62 X ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examzner. 2,659,189 11/53 Berg et a1. 2091 14 X ANTONIO F. GUIDA, Examiner. 

1. A CABBAGE HARVESTING MACHINE COMPRISING (A) A CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO BE ADVANCED ON THE GROUND ALONG A ROW OF CABBAGE PLANTS, (B) MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR UPROOTING CABBAGE PLANTS FROM A ROW DURING THE ADVANCE OF SAID CARRIAGE, (C) CUTTING MEANS ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR TRIMMING THE STEMS FROM THE HEADS OF THE UPROOTED CABBAGE PLANTS, (D) CONVEYOR MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR TRANSPORTING UPROOTED CABBAGE PLANTED PAST SAID CUTTING MEANS TO BE TRIMMED THEREBY, AND FOR TRANSPORTING THE HEADS OF THE PLANTS AND LEAVES SEVERED FROM THE HEADS TOWARD A DISCHARGE POINT AT THE REAR END OF SAID CONVEYOR MEANS, 